Vending-machine.



M. ELZAS.

VBNDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED PBB,13,1914.

Patented Feb.9,1915.

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1JENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB,13,1914,

LILQ/p Datenteo Feb. 9, i915.

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M. ELZAS.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB, 1s. 1314,

Patented @815.93915 w P 4, 4 u m T 1 t E 1 z n Q ma@ .N u@ au ITS.\ \Jl SZ m 4 i@ H j s 5 7 O l L 4 M. ELZAS.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.13,1914. l, 1 27,41 7. Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

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pilncoaca mum MARTIN ELZAS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

VENDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ree. a, raie.

Application led February 13, 1914. Serial No. 818,480.

easy to operate.

-A further object of the invention is to provide a 'machine of the above mentioned character, so constructed that the operating parts of the machine occupy a comparatively small space, compared with the size of the article holding receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple reliable means for returning the coin to' the'y operator in case the machine is empty or upon the discharge of a predetermined number of articles therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and simple means, which opcrate in a positive manner to discharge or eject the articles from the machine.

l Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like lparts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a vending machine embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, the door or side thereof being removed, Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. l3, Fig. 7 is a similar view taken on lme 7-7 of Fig. 5, Fig. 8 is a similar view taken onl line 8,-8 of Fig. 2, Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the article ejector, and, Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 5.

1n the drawings, wherein for the rpurpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the nuineral 10 designates an outer casing or shell, having its outer side normally closed by a removable door or side 11, provided as more clearly shown in Fig. 8, at its lower end with internally arranged bolts 12, adapted for insertion within apertured brackets 13 fixed to the floor of the casing 10. The upper end of this door or side is held in its closed position by means of van interior lock 14, of any well known or preferred type. The door or side 11 is preferably provided along its edges witha flange or bead 15, receiving therein. the open side of the casing l0. However this is a mere preferred design and not essential.

The door or lid 11 is preferably provided in its open end with an opening receiving a looking glass or mirror 16, and below this looking glass or mirror-with a suitably large sight opening 17, spanned by a section of glass 18 or the like. Below this sight opening there is a horizontally arranged article discharge opening 19, as shown.

The numeral 2O designates a preferably vertically arranged coin receiving opening, within which the coin is inserted when it 1s desired to operate the machine. Arranged below and spaced from the coin receiving opening 20 is a coin returning opening 21, below and adjacent which is a chute or defiector 22, as shown.

Arranged within the outer or main cas-` ing 10, as more clearly shown in Fig. 8, is an inner casing-support 23, including forwardly and laterally extending vertically arranged fianges 24. The lowerv ends of these ianges 24 terminate ata point spaced la substantial distance above a floor 25, in-

28. The pivoted substantially U-shaped` ejector 27 is arranged to swing laterally below supports 29 arranged above and spaced a substantial distance from the floor .25. These supports are spaced and receive thereon the articles 26 to be vended, a weight 30 being preferably arranged upon the articles to e'ect' their positive downward movement. by

gravitation. The horizontal portion of the substantially U-shaped ejector 27 thus operates permanently out of engagement with the articles to be vended, but the same has a. plurality of upstanding extensions or ejector fingers 31 rigidly connected therewith, adapted to assume positions behind the inner longitudinal edge of the lowermost article, to force the same out of the machine. These ejector fingers are arranged between longitudinally extendingspacing rails 32, whereby the articles will not engage with the upper ends of the ejector fingers upon the downward movement of said articles. The means employed to mov-e or operate the article ejector 27 will be described hereinafter.

As more clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 8, `the numeral 33 designates a vertical guide strip arranged inwardly of and adjacent the door 1l, which is rigidly connected at its 1 lower end with a fiXed transverse horizontal strip 34, and at its upper end with a fixed horizontal transverse strip 35, as more clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 8. The numeral 36 designates relatively short guide strips arranged upon opposite sides of the guide strip 33 connected with the horizontal strip 34 and serving to attach the' same to the lower ends of the flanges or sides 24, as shown.

As more clearly shown in Figs. 2v and 8, the numeral 37 designates a vertically movvable door or element arranged inwardly of the door or side 1l to normally close the discharge opening 19. rThis vertically movable door or elementV is connected with and moved by 'an upstanding reciprocatory strip or bar 38, slidably mounted upon the guide strip 33, and provided with longitudinal slots 39, receiving bolts 40 extending into said slots, as shown. rlhe means to operate or move this door or element will be described hereinafter.

I will new proceed to describe the coin controlled means for operating the-article ejector and movable door or element for covering or uncovering the discharge opening. This coin controlled means is designed as a whole by the numeral 41 and is preferably arranged upon' one side of the casing-support 23, as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. The coin controlled means comprises an innermost plate 42, which is rigidly secured to one side or flange 24 of any suitable means. Pivotally mounted upon the innermost plate 42, (see Figs. 4 and 5) as shown at 43, is a crank 44, turned by a stub-shaft 45, extending outwardly beyond the casing 1 0,-as shown in Fig. l, for operative connection with a vertically swinging handle or lever 46. The crank 44 is urged upwardly by aA suitably stiff retractile coil spring 47, connected therewith, as shown at 48, and at its, upper-end with the upper end of thev guide means for a coin receiving reciprocatory plunger 54, slidably mounted upon the outer side thereof. The intermediate plate 50 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 55, receiving a pin or trunnion 56, rigidly attached to the coin receiving plunger 54 with its free end extending into the forked end 57 of the crank 44, as more clearly shown in Fig. 4. It is thus seen that a downward swinging movement of the crank 44 will move the coin receiving plunger 54 downwardly. The crank 44 is posi.- tively limited in its movements in opposite directions by means' of stop lugs 58. By virtue of the connection between this crank and the coin receiving plunger, the movement of the coin receiving plunger in opposite directions will be correspondingly positively limited. The coin receiving plunger 54 is provided with a longitudinal slot 59, receiving an outwardly extending laterally bent leaf spring 60, arranged within a slot 61` of the plate 50, with its lower end slidably engaging a bracket 62, attached to the plate 60, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 7. The function of this spring is to engage the coin while the same is moving downwardly `with the coin receiving plunger, and to .prevent the coin from traveling downwardly with relation to the plunger, before the plunger has traveled a predetermined distance. The coin receiving plunger 54 (see more particularly Figs. 4 and 7) is provided near its upper end with a flange 63, and inwardly of and adjacent .the lower end of this flange with a coin engaging or depressing lug or extension 64, there being a passage or opening 65 occurring between the lower end of the flange 63 and the upper end of the flange 51 for the reception of the coin, which passage is in registration with the coin receiving o enin 20, as shown. -Arranged uaon the P g l flanges of the intermediate plate is a second intermediate plate .66, rigidly secured thereto in parallel spaced relation to the plate 50, the coin receiving plunger 54 operating between these two intermediate plates. Arranged upon the inner side of the plate 66 and pivoted thereto, as shown at 67, is a bellcrank lever 68, provided with an outwardly extending lug 69, serving to engage with the plate 66 to positively limit the inward movement of the bell-crank lever, which is caused by a retractile coil spring 70, which is connected with the upper arm thereof, as

with al lateral extension 72, formed upon the upper end of one arm of the substantially. U-shaped ejector 27, as more clearly shown in Fig. 5. It is thus seen that when the vertical'arm of the bell-crank lever 68 is swung laterally and rearwardly, the ejector 27 will have its lower end swung laterally and forwardly to discharge the article from the machine.

As more clearly Shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the bell-crank lever 68 has its horizontal .arm apertured, as shown at 73 and 74, for

pivotal connection with depending rods 75, and 76. The rod.7 6 has its lower end pivotally connected with a bell-crank lever 77, pivoted at 78, with its lower end 79 arranged abovev and slightly spaced from the upper longitudinal edge of the vertical movable door or element 37, to normally prevent the' upward or opening movement thereof, but being moved out of the path of travel of the door or element before the same moves upwardly. As more clearly shown in Fig. 2, the numeral 80 designates a vertically swinging lever, pivoted at 81.,

with its inner end having a pin and slot connection 82 with the reciprocatory strip or bar 38. The outer end of the lever 80 is provided with a flange or lateral extension 83, apertured to receive the lower end of the rod 76, 'the flange 83 being engaged by a coil spring 84 surrounding the rod 75 and engaging a ring 85 carried thereby, thus affording a yielding operative connection between the rod 75 and the lever 80. At thisv point it is thought proper to state that upon the downward movement of the horizontal arm of the bell-crank lever 68, rods 75 and 76 will be moved downwardly with the result that the lower end of the latch bell-crank lever 77 will be rst moved out of t-he path of travel of the vertically movable door 37, subsequently to which the lever 80 will move door 37 upwardly, to uncover the discharge opening 19. It is obvious that should this door 37 move upwardly whereby it will engage the lower end of the latch 77 before it has fully l moved out of the path of travel ofthe same,

such action will not result in a binding or locking engagement between these parts, as the spring 84 will permit of the movement of the lever 80 being properly retarded until the lower end of the latch lever 77 'has cleared the upper longitudinal edge of the door 37.

.I provide means to return the coin to the operator in case the machine is attempted to be operated by the insertion ofl a coin therein, after all of a predetermined number of the articles have been discharged therefrom. To accomplish this I provide an outermost plate 86, arranged upon the intermediate plate 66. This outermost plate is shown as formed in two Sections 87 and 88, therebeing a transverse ange 89 formed upon the lower end ofthe section 88 and an inclined flange or end 90 formed upon the lower portion of the section 87, adapted to deflect the coin outwardly through the opening 21 into the guide or deilector chute 22. As clearly shown in Fig. 7, the passage 91 constitutes a coin collecting passage, while the passage 92 constitutes a coin returning passage. Means are provided to deflect the coin into either of these passages depending upon the operative state or condition of the machine.v Such means comprises a vertically swinging deflector door or element 93, pivoted to flanges 94 formed upon the section 87, as shown at 95.

ing 96 formed through the plate 66, and is provided at its upper end with an extension or tongue 97, adapted to strike a stop 98, the deflector door being automatically swung in that direction by a spring 99 or the like. It is thus seen that when the deflector door or plate is in its normal or vertical position, .as shown in Fig. 7, the coin will pass downwardly into the collectmg passage 91 but when the deilector door or element 93 is swung to the position indi This deflector -plate or element is mounted within an open- (see Fig. 5), the last named crank being pivoted at 102 and urged outwardly by a suitably stiii coil spring 103. Rigidly connected with this crank 101 to turn the same, is a depending article engaging detector element 101, movable into and out of a longitudinally extending opening 105 formed through one of the flanges or sides 24. The lower end of this detector element is so spaced from vthe supports 29 that when the last article has been discharged from the machine, the detector element 104 will have its free end released to be automatically swung by the spring 102 into the article holding shell. As a result of this the crank 101 s swung outwardly, which in turn swings the crank 100 outwardly and shifts the delector door or element 93 to the position to cause the coin to be returned to the operator.

'lhe operation of the apparatus is as follows z-Jl he coin of the proper denomination is inserted into the coin slot 20, and passes through opening or space (see Fig. 4), upon and into engagement with one side of the coin receiving plunger 54 and the camface 71 of the bell-crank lever 68. The lever 46 is then depressed, swinging crank 44 downwardlykwhich in turn causes a downward movement of the plunger 54. The lug 64 carried by the plunger elfects a downward movement of the coin longitudinally of and in engagement with the cam-face 71, whereby the bell-crank lever is swung upon its pivot. When the coin reaches the lower end of the cam-face 7l, the tapered lower end of the vertical arm of the bell-crank lever will throw the coin downwardly, upon the bell-crank lever being swung upwardly by the spring 70. When the bell-crank lever is swung upon its pivot, as above stated, the lower end thereof engages the extension 72 of the ejector 27 and swings the same upon its pivot, whereby the lower end thereof is moved forwardlv and laterallv and the lingers 31 (see lig. 9) engage the lowermost article to discharge the same through the opening 19, the door 37 having been previously moved to its open or upper position, as will be now explained. Upon the said swinging movement of the bell-crank lever, the horizontal arm thereof is swung downwai-diy, which through the medium of rods 75 nand 76, moves the latch 77 to release the door 37 and also moves the door to the upper or open position. The yielding connection between the rod 76 and lever 80 serves to prevent binding action between these parts in case the lever or latch 77 is not swung out of the path of travel of the door 37, prior to the upward movement of the door.

lf a coin of improper denomination, that is one having too small a diameter, is inserted in the machine, the same passes into engagement with one side of the coin receiving plunger below the lug 64, but being unsupported by engagement with `the camface 71 is deflected by the inclined portion of the spring 60 into the coin chute of the portion 88, through the opening formed through the inner wall thereof, and is either discharged into the lower portion lof the article holding receptacle or returned to the operator, as may be desired. llhe coin of the proper denomination is too large to pass through this opening.,

maaar? When the last article to be vended has been discharged from the machine, the detector element or lever 104 (see Fig. 6), being spring pressed automatically swings into the receptacle, whereby the deflector 93 (see Fig. 7), is swung to the inclined position, and the coin made to pass from the inner coin chute orspace 91 to the outer coin chute or space 92, and returned to the operator through slot 21.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A vending machine of the character described, comprising a movable ejector, a movablel element to operate the same having a longitudinally extending cam-face, a longitudinally slotted coin receiving plunger arranged near and movable longitudinally of the movable element and carrying a lateral extension to engage a coin and cause the coin to travel longitudinally of the movable element in engagement with the camface thereof to move the element in one'direction, a laterallyA bent spring extending through the slot of the plunger to engage with the coin and means to move the coin receiving plunger in one direction.

2. A vending machine of the character described, comprising an article holding receptacle, a movable ejector to discharge articles therefrom, a movable door to control the discharge of the articles, a pivoted bellcrank lever adapted to operate the ejector and provided with a longitudinally extending cam-face, means to move a coin longii tudinally of one arm of the bell-crank lever in engagement with the cam-face to movethe same 1n onedirection, a latch normally serving to lock the movable door against movement in one direction, operative connections between the movable door and the other arm of the bell-crank lever whereby the former is moved by the latter, and connecting means between the latch and the.

last named arm of the bell-crank lever.

3. A vending machine of the character described, comprising an article holding receptacle, a movable ejector to discharge articles therefrom, a movable .door to control the discharge of the articles, a pivoted bellcrank lever adapted to o erate the ejector and provided with a longitudinally extending cam-face, means to move a coin longitudinally of and in. engagement with the cam-face to move the bell-crank lever in' one direction, a pivoted lever connected with the movable door', a rod connected with the In testimony whereof I ax my signature other arm of the bell-crank lever, yleldng in presence of two Witnesses.

connecting means between said pvoted lever and rod, a latch to normally hold the movable door against movement, and opemtlve e connecting means between the latch and the bell-crank lever.

MARTIN 'ELZAS Witnesses:

WINNIE SCHAEFER, R. F. PAULSEN. 

